That may leave you asking the question: What can you do with a master’s in psychology?
The answer is quite a bit!
Fortunately, there is a broad spectrum of California careers that only require a master’s degree. Careers that you may find with a master’s in psychology can come from any field. The Chicago School’s Irvine Campus offers various master’s programs that focus on a variety of careers and fields that help meet the needs of the Southern California community.
Today, however, let’s concentrate on four distinct areas: business, law enforcement, legal and public policy, and marriage and family therapy.
Request infoBusiness
Earning a master’s in psychology doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to work in a counselor’s office. You can take your psychology skills to the business world.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology is one of the fastest growing vocational fields in the U.S. I/O psychology provides you with valuable skills that apply to solve workplace challenges like employee engagement and retention. An M.A. in I/O Psychology can provide the foundation needed to launch a successful career in consulting, marketing, and H.R.
Comprehensive M.A. I/O programs will integrate theory into real-world application. The Chicago School’s Irvine campus, for example, offers an M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology where you will have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom through an internship at an approved site or through your current workplace.
Law Enforcement
Have you considered applying your interest in psychology to the law?
Forensic psychology is the study of psychology as it relates to careers in the area of law. One area where professionals in this field can find rewarding careers is in law enforcement. While there’s a broad range of careers that you can find in law enforcement, many who pursue work in forensic psychology become Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), performing a variety of services, including:
- Mental state examinations
- Violence risk assessments
- Police instruction and training
- De-escalating domestic disputes
- Counseling offenders
If a career in law enforcement seems intriguing to you, The Chicago School’s Irvine campus offers an M.A. in Forensic Psychology with a Police Psychology concentration.
With courses in police administration, police training, and other areas, this unique program can prepare you for a career in law enforcement. Through real-world application, you will have the opportunity to network with other professionals in the Irvine Police Department, Coroner’s Office, and City Attorney’s office. Upon completion of this master’s degree, you will have satisfied the educational requirement to sit for licensure as an LPCC in California.
Related Masters Degree Programs
- M.A. Forensic Psychology: Non-Licensure Track and Master of Legal Studies
- M.A. In Forensic Psychology, Professional Counselor Licensure Track
- M.A. in Forensic Psychology- Professional Counselor Licensure Track, Police Psychology Concentration
- M.A. In Forensic Psychology, Non-Licensure Track
- M.A. In Psychology with a Forensic Psychology Concentration
Legal and Public Policy
Careers in forensic psychology are not limited to law enforcement and can encompass the legal and public policy arena as well. Most professionals in this area provide services to law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and local and state government. Some of the duties these professionals are asked to perform include assessments, clinical treatment, conflict management, and crisis negotiation and management.
If you’re interested in a career in this area, you will need to gain experience with trauma and crisis intervention and mental health law as well as many other relevant topics.
The Chicago School Irvine also offers an M.A. in Forensic Psychology with a counselor licensure track. Like the Police Psychology concentration, this program prepares students academically to apply for the California LPCC examination.
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Southern California has some of the nation’s highest employment levels for this occupation. There is a substantial need for marriage and family therapists, and you don’t need a doctoral degree to become a licensed therapist in California.
Like the name suggests, marriage and family therapists work with couples, children, and families that are experiencing emotional, behavioral, and psychological distress. As a licensed therapist, you may find a career providing these services in a variety of settings, including:
- Private practice
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Courts and prisons
- Community mental health centers
- Government agencies
In addition to what you learn in the classroom, a comprehensive MFT program will include practicum experience—supplementing theory with clinical field training. In order to be able to sit for the MFT licensing examination, the program needs to meet the academic requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
Not only does The Chicago School’s Irvine M.A. in Clinical Psychology with a Marital and Family Specialization meet the academic requirements of the BBS, but it also meets the content areas of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition, this master’s degree in clinical psychology program helps you gain valuable hands-on experience. Placements include a minimum of 250 hours of supervised clinical experience.
After completion of The Chicago School’s MFT program, you will be academically eligible to sit for the licensure exam to become an MFT (marriage and family therapist) in California.
Related Masters Degree Programs
- M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy
Victim Advocacy
Surviving a criminal act alone is remarkable. Coping through the periods after that unfortunate event is something that requires special care. That’s where victim advocates come into play. Victims of crimes often deal with feelings of terror, grief, anger, confusion, anxiety, and various other symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Navigating the legal system after experiencing a criminal event can be difficult for victims, as many of them don’t even know where to turn to get the help they need. Irvine’s M.A. in Forensic Psychology program prepares students for navigating the legal system through a mental health lens.
With a master’s in psychology, you are well equipped to help victims of crime find the help they require, get necessary treatment, counseling, or therapy, and make a quick, clean, and safe return to everyday life. You can decide to work in many roles, such as a private consultant or as a member of a legal or non-profit organization as a psychologist, counselor, or advisor.
Request infoVeteran Counseling
Looking for how to serve your country and community at the same time with a master’s in psychology? Then veteran counseling is just the right fit for you.
Spending years in the military often makes it difficult for former soldiers to adjust back into civilian life. Many veterans experience great difficulty transitioning into different aspects of normal life, including relationships, family, finances, and career. Serving in the military greatly impacts a person’s mental and emotional health, and subsequent life can be even harder for those injured in service.
Veteran Counseling uses your expertise in psychology to help military veterans adjust through the transition from military life to civilian life. Our online M.A. in Psychology extends student’s knowledge and helps apply concepts of psychology in practical, real-world contexts. In this flexible online program, students can tailor their coursework to best suit their individual interests and career goals—with areas like community and environmental psychology. Upon completion, students are prepared to enter the workforce and assist in social and community-centered services, like veteran counseling.
Any veteran discharged under honorable or general circumstances in the United States has access to some programs and services, including veteran counseling. There are several opportunities in Irvine and across the country for you to become a Veteran Counselor and help our national heroes becomes successful and happy civilians again.
Related Masters Degree Programs
- M.A. Counseling Psychology
- M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Sports Psychology
Playing sports, for most people, is a fun way to stay fit and build relationships by competing with friends and peers. A few individuals can even make quite a decent living by playing professionally. However, the psychology behind sports is rarely considered in the day-to-day gameplay.
What makes some people want to play sports? Why do they want to compete? How does playing sports affect people mentally and emotionally?
These are the kinds of questions sports psychologists attempt to answer in their careers. A sport psychologist must understand that individuals who play sports must be healthy, both physically and mentally, to succeed. Many times, athletes need help overcoming psychological issues that hinder them from unleashing their full potential. For example, relieving stress or anxiety before events often lead to better performances.
Sport psychologists work with several different types of athletes, from amateurs to professionals. A master’s in psychology can help you become a major (psychological) player in the world of sports.
Learn more about The Chicago School
Are you interested in learning more about The Chicago School? Fill out the form below to request more information, visit our programs page, or you can apply today through our application portal.